Amusement apparatus



Aug. 15, 1933. A U A 1,922,802

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 20. 1928 mg. F D 5 4 -H- B i 6 0711:!) D 5 D e-@ M 22 ,0 9 W I I a! I 4| :3 2 i 111,0 @12 Z02 iGueyda/n/ ing with the rotatable toothed wheel 7.

Patented Aug. 15, 1933 AMIUSEMENT APPARATUS Arthur Gueyd an, Echandens, near Lausanne,

Switzerland Original application September 20, 1928, Serial No. 307,314, and in Switzerland December 12, 1927. Divided and this application September 6, 1930. Serial No. 480,210

Claims.

. rigid or flexible track surfaces.

In a particular form of embodiment applicable to race games, the track is constituted by a piece of fabric or board presenting transverse rows of obstacles on its upper face and is provided at one end with a spring pulling the track in one direction and at the other end with an abutment engaging with a rotatable toothed wheel to pull the track intermittently in the opposite direction,

said actuating means being fixed to a supporting table upon which is laid the track.

The figures to be moved by the proposed device can be provided with supporting means enabling them to remain automatically parallel to the direction of the course.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an amusement apparatus forming race game.

Fig.2 shows a lateral elevation of same.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a movablefigure.

Fig. 4, shows a figure fitted with a plush coated base.

In the form of embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, 1 is a rigid table over which is stretched the movable track 2. This track is at one end connected to the rigid table 1, by means of spring 3 and at its opposite end to a pivoted lever 4, by means of a rod 5. The end 6 of the lever 4. forms an abutment engag- This mounted upon the table in suitable bearings for its shaft and can be rotated by hand by means of the crank 8 or it may be driven by motor. Rows of obstables 9 are placed on the path of the movable figures 10 which in the present example have the shape of racing horses. In order to allow the figures to remain straight on the track surface, they have been provided with a convex rocking base (Fig. 3) the line of which contacting the track surface tends to remain automatically, during the reciprocating movement of the track, at right angles with the direction of said reciprocating movement, thereby preventing the figures from being turned sideways while advancing on the wheel is track. Fig. 4 shows figures as can be used in a boat race game apparatus. In such game the track will preferably present an undulated surface 11, (Fig. l), giving the impression of the sea surface and the figures may be fitted with a base 12, coated with material presenting nonreturn features, such as panne-velvet, the hairs of which are bent in a rearward direction, which will allow said figures to ascend the undulated surface of the track.

The base table 1 can be made of any rigid material such as wood or can consist of any plane surface; the movable track 2 can be made of paper, cardboard, fabric or the like which preferably enables it to be folded up. The spring 3 can be formed by a piece of rubber and the abutment or lever 4 and toothed wheel '7 made preferably of fibre.

The figures placed upon the track are moved in the following manner: when driving the toothed wheel in the direction indicated by the arrow, the end of the lever or abutment 6 is alternately pulled and released on account of the tension of the spring acting on the track, and a repeated, longitudinal plane reciprocating motion is thus imparted to the track surface. The figures placed thereon will then move along the track either by impulse received from the stroke during which they adhere on the track, or by rupture of adherence to the track surface due to their inertia and this according to the degree of tension of the spring which differentiates the relative speeds of the two strokes of reciprocating movement of the track.

The arched base of the figures causes'them to effect a rocking movement so that the force of friction tending to make the figure move with the track and the inertia of the figure form a couple acting on the figure and impart impulses to the figure whereby this latter maintains a slight rocking movement. When such an impulse acts on the figure in inclined position and when it has been moved out of its correct position facing the direction of reciprocation, there does not only exist a couple of a horizontal component influencing the rocking movement, but also a couple having a vertical component which'acts to turn the figure back into its correct position parallel with the direction of reciprocation. It will be seen that the f figures provided with a base coated with pannevelvet or plush, such as shown in Fig. 4, will move by impulse in a direction depending on the inclination of the hairs of said material which make them adhere to the track in one direction and slide along it in the opposite direction. It is obvious that the supporting surface or track can be coated with material presenting non-return features, such as plush or pannevelvet and in that case the said material of the figures may be dispensed with. The obstacles placed on the track delay more or less the run of the figures which end the race in the most unexpected order. It is obvious that the device described can also be used for other purposes, such as for instance, advertising apparatus.

I claim:

1. An amusement apparatus comprising a straight track surface, rows of obstacles placed on the track, driving means connected to both extreme ends of the track and including a resilient means to pull the track in one direction, a rotatable toothed wheel, and a lever connected to the track and coacting with the toothed wheel to pull the track in the other direction, and a series of movable figures placed on the track and being provided with rocking bases.

2. An amusement apparatus comprising a straight foldable track surface, rows of obstacles placed on the track, driving means connected to both extreme ends of the track and acting to place the track under tension, said driving means including a resilient means connected to one end of the track, an abutment connected to the other end of the track, and a horizontally disposed toothed wheel coacting with said abutment, and a series of movable figures placed on the track and being provided with rocking bases.

3. An amusement apparatus comprising a plane table, a straight foldable track stretched over the table and provided with obstacles,

means to reciprocate the track, said means including a resilient member connected to one end of the track, an abutment connected to the other end of the track, and a horizontally disposed toothed wheel coacting with said abutment and operating so as to hold the track flat during its reciprocating motion, and a number of figures placed freely on the track to be moved therealong.

4. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, the combination of a track, means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the track; said track having its surface coated with plush or the like material having hairs inclined in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the track, and figures placed freely on the coated surface of the track whereby reciprocation of the track will cause said figures to advance in the direction of inclination of the hairs of said coating material, said hairs preventing the figures from moving in opposite direction.

5. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, the combination of a track, means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the track, said track having its surface provided with undulations coated with plush or the like material having hairs inclined in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the track, and figures placed freely on the coated surface of the track, whereby reciprocation of the track will cause said figures to advance in the direction of inclination of the hairs of said coating material, said hairs preventing the figures from sliding backwards when ascending the undulations.

ARTHUR GUEYDAN. 

